Daily Digest – June 28: Crossing the Border to a Better Economy

Roosevelt Institute Fellow Annette Bernhardt and Haeyoung Yoon argue that comprehensive immigration reform is not only the right thing to do, but a road to citizenship, worker protections, and smart integration of future immigrants would also provide huge economic benefits.

Roosevelt Institute Senior Fellow Rob Johnson writes that the “bail-in” that rescued Cyprus proved the euro zone nations still suffer from a fear of commitment, and it showed depositors across Europe that when their countries are in trouble, so are their bank accounts.

The Supreme Court: Corporate America’s Employees of the Month (Businessweek)

Most Americans might have mixed feelings about the Supreme Court after recent rulings that gutted voting rights but advanced gay rights, but Paul Barrett notes that when it comes to cases that involve corporate liability, the good news for CEOs just keeps on coming.

Catherine Rampell reports that the $85 billion gouged out of the economy by sequestration has led to tough times for private sector companies that rely on federal funds, ranging from military suppliers to custodial services. Maybe Congress will fix it once the plumbing goes.

Suzy Khimm writes that the July 1 deadline for Congress to act on Stafford loans is just around the corner, but even though the House, Senate, and White House all agree the interest rates shouldn’t spike, none of them can agree on a plan to keep that from happening.

Forced to Work Sick? That’s Fine With Disney, Red Lobster, and Their Friends at ALEC (MoJo)

Stephanie Mencimer points out that the U.S. is one of the few industrialized nations that doesn’t provide mandatory paid sick leave, and notorious corporate front group ALEC is pushing state-level laws to ensure that your ailing co-workers keep coughing all over you.

The Expendables: How the Temps Who Power Corporate Giants Are Getting Crushed (ProPublica)

Michael Grabell writes that the June jobs report showed that the U.S. economy includes more temp workers than ever before, but while the work they’re doing may be temporary, the poverty and bad working conditions they experience have proved to be anything but.

Jared Bernstein argues that since the Federal Reserve’s attempts at clearer communications have led confused investors to overreact and left Ben Bernanke tongue-tied over what it is he actually plans to do, this may be a case where less is more.